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| Marine withdraws Iraq murder plea | Marine withdraws Iraq murder plea |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A US marine who was the only member of his squad to plead guilty to murder over the death of an Iraqi civilian has asked to withdraw his plea. | A US marine who was the only member of his squad to plead guilty to murder over the death of an Iraqi civilian has asked to withdraw his plea. |
| Cpl Trent Thomas made his request via his lawyer at the last minute, as the court was preparing to sentence him. | Cpl Trent Thomas made his request via his lawyer at the last minute, as the court was preparing to sentence him. |
| He was a member of a unit accused of killing Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, in the town of Hamdaniya in April 2006. | He was a member of a unit accused of killing Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, in the town of Hamdaniya in April 2006. |
| Three marines and a Navy medic pleaded guilty to lesser charges related to the incident. Others await trial. | Three marines and a Navy medic pleaded guilty to lesser charges related to the incident. Others await trial. |
| Military judge Lt Col Tracy Daly granted Cpl Thomas' request after warning him he was creating a "very sticky problem" for the court, reports say. | |
| Cpl Thomas was the first member of his unit to come forward with his version of events about the killing. | Cpl Thomas was the first member of his unit to come forward with his version of events about the killing. |
| The unit was reportedly searching for an insurgent and took Mr Awad when they failed to find their target. | The unit was reportedly searching for an insurgent and took Mr Awad when they failed to find their target. |
| He was put in a hole and shot in the head 10 times. The troops then placed a gun and shovel by his body to make it seem as if he had been an insurgent planting a roadside bomb. | He was put in a hole and shot in the head 10 times. The troops then placed a gun and shovel by his body to make it seem as if he had been an insurgent planting a roadside bomb. |
| Forced march | Forced march |
| At a sentencing hearing for Cpl Thomas on Wednesday, one his former squadmates testified that the marine corporal had been a key player in the killing. | At a sentencing hearing for Cpl Thomas on Wednesday, one his former squadmates testified that the marine corporal had been a key player in the killing. |
| Other US investigations | Other US investigations |
| Petty Officer Melson J Bacos said Cpl Thomas and another marine, Cpl Marshall Magincalda, had entered Mr Awad's home and come out with him several moments later. | Petty Officer Melson J Bacos said Cpl Thomas and another marine, Cpl Marshall Magincalda, had entered Mr Awad's home and come out with him several moments later. |
| Cpl Thomas held Mr Awad during much of the forced march to the place he was killed, Bacos said. | Cpl Thomas held Mr Awad during much of the forced march to the place he was killed, Bacos said. |
| He said squad leader Sgt Lawrence Hutchins III then fired three shots into Mr Awad's head followed by at least seven more rounds to the head from Cpl Thomas. | He said squad leader Sgt Lawrence Hutchins III then fired three shots into Mr Awad's head followed by at least seven more rounds to the head from Cpl Thomas. |
| Bacos was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the killing but is expected to serve only a year in exchange for his testimony against his former squadmates. | Bacos was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the killing but is expected to serve only a year in exchange for his testimony against his former squadmates. |
| Cpl Thomas pleaded guilty last month to murder, conspiracy and kidnapping, among other charges. | Cpl Thomas pleaded guilty last month to murder, conspiracy and kidnapping, among other charges. |
| But his lawyer asked that the plea be withdrawn on Thursday, only a day before the judge was expected to pass sentence. | But his lawyer asked that the plea be withdrawn on Thursday, only a day before the judge was expected to pass sentence. |
| "You are creating a very sticky problem for the court," Col Daley is reported to have said. | |
| "He has already told me that he knew what he was doing is unlawful." | "He has already told me that he knew what he was doing is unlawful." |
| But his lawyer, Victor Kelley, said Cpl Thomas now believed he had lawful authority for his actions. | But his lawyer, Victor Kelley, said Cpl Thomas now believed he had lawful authority for his actions. |
| The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of killing Iraqi civilians. | The case is one of several in which US troops are accused of killing Iraqi civilians. |